The Wa Methodist School for the Blind was initiated by Rev. Paul Adu the Methodist minister in-charge of the Wa Mission area and was also the Local Manager of Methodist schools.

The first Headmaster of the school, Mr Benjamin Kwaku Awumee (5778/W/47) began work at the school with earnest on the 1st day of July. 1957.

The Local Manager and the Headmaster had to go round villages and towns in and around Wa town to educate parents on the need for blind education and recruit pupils for the school. Places
they visited included Lawra, Nadowli. Tumu, Sankana to mention but a few.

The Local Manager and the Headmaster succeeded in enrolling seven (7) male pupils to start the school. The school was formally and officially opened on the 13th day of May,
1958.

The pupils that were enrolled are as follows with their respective towns/villages they came from:

NO

NAME OF PUPIL

TOWN/VILLAGE

1

Norabel Francis Ankaaba

Sombo

2

Sunmale Naago

Nadowli

3

Kpiangu Kwara

Dapuori

4

Naddi kpietoro

Tangasie

5

Madine Dabuo

Sankana

6

Kwadjo Dormache

Sankana

7

Asiena Kala

Charia

One cannot talk about the history of the school without mentioning a prominent Wa based contractor He played a vital role in the establishment of the school. He is in the person
of Nana T .K. Serbeh.

The school was established at the Wa Lorry park/station and was moved to its present and permanent site in September, 1976.

Mr B. K. Awumee on opening the school was the only Headmaster/teacher who
shouldered all the academic and co-curricular activities of the school. His headship started from 1958 and ended in 1981. Between these years some teaching and non- teaching staff were posted to
the school to give a helping hand lo train these pupils academically, socially and morally to fit into the society.

Some of these teaching/non-teaching staff who were hard working, conscious to duty, enthusiastic and devoted to work included; Mr. Moamere. Mr. Ameku, Mr. S.Y. Boakye, Mr. Asare. Mr. P K.
Fiagbenya and Mr. Dzonu. These formed the core of the teaching staff Mad. Susana and Mad. Magdalene were the house mothers while Mr. Samba and Mr. 7uyelc formed the labor force. All these people
played their roles effectively to bring academic excellence to the school as that was the main aim/objective set by the Headteacher.

All Headteachers/Headmasters who headed the school from 1958 to date maintained discipline and academic excellence as their main objective

Pupils occupy themselves in the morning as academic work starts from 7:00 a.m. to 2 00 p.m. 3:0()p.m. to 5:00 p. m Pupils engage themselves in extra - curricular activities and between
7'OOpm and 8:30 pm. are very busy with their home work/assignments.

Pupils participated in organized competitions such as essay writing and win prizes. This therefore means the pupils are leaving no stone unturn with regards to education.

A good number of the products of the school arc teachers and others work in other departments and Non-Government Organizations with regards to employment.

As mentioned earlier on from 1958 up to date, a good number of experienced
academicians headed the school to bring it up to its present state. The list of the past and present headmasters/mistresses is shown below:

LIST OF HEADS OF THE SCHOOL FROM 1958 TO DATE

NO

NAME

PERIOD

POSITION

1

Mr. Ben K. Awumee

1/7/57-11/2/8 1

Substantive Headmaster

2

Mr. Alfred Suglo Dassah

11/2/81-30/9/82

Acting Headmaster

3

Mr. Obagiba Jatoe

1/10/82-3/8/87

Substantive Headmaster

4

Mr. Amatus Bonlang

1/9/87-1/8/89

Acting Headmaster

5

Mr. G.N. Dabake

l/9/89-8/1/2001

Substantive Headmaster

6

Mr. John Donchere

8/01/01 -22/12/03

Substantive Headmaster

7

Ms Mary Batuang

1/1/04- 31/3/05

Acting Headmistress

8

Mr. Sarnpson Akurugu

1/4/05-8/03/13

Substantive Headmaster

Presently the school is under the headship of Mr. Sampson Akurugu. Everything with regards to academic excellence is progressing steadily

ACADEMICS/PROGRAMMES OFFERED IN WA METHODIST SCHOOL

FOR THE BLIND

The school presently, runs six departments namely;

-Kindergarten
- JHS (Junior High School)

-Primary -Vocational Training

-Functional-Braille Class

KINDERGARTEN;They offer the normal curriculum from KG2 to KG3. The pupils are also taught how to read and
write the grade one Braille.

PRIMARY;It offers the basic curriculum programmes from PI to P6. The lower
primary which starts from PI to P3 and the upper primary starts from P4 to P6. The Primary runs all subjects that are taught in our sighted schools with ICT which is being taught from the upper
primary to the JHS level.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL:The Junior High school consciously and systematically
runs programmes that are targeted to prepare the students towards the successful completion of the JHS programme and enable them pass the BECE and be admitted into the Senior High School.

The Junior High School has 3 stages thus; JHS1, JHS2 and JHS3.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING;The vocational Training is targeted to prepare students who have completed the JHS and
are not able to make it to the SHS. This aims at preparing the individual to establish their own careers in specialized areas. Furthermore, it equips these practioners with the requisite
knowledge to enable them to live and function in deprived communities in the country. The vocational class runs the following programmes.

-Bed Weaving

-Door Mats

-Soap Making

-Pomade Making.

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING:The Functional Training school admits pupils with multiple disabilities, example pupils who are blind and have mental problems. The school
trains them to function or cope with daily living skills.

Some pupils whose cases are mild are trained to the point that, they can place them in the normal educational programme.

BRAILLE CLASS/ADULT BRAILLE LEARNING

The mission of the Braille class is to admit individuals who were working, or in schools teaching or learning and had late blindness. The principal objectives are to train
effectively and efficiently equip them with the requisite skills in reading and writing of Braille. Also counseling service is offered to the individual to overcome the challenges and
trauma they face during this period.

After the individuals had successfully gone through the training, he/she is placed in a class in the school. Those from the Senior High Schools and other departments go back to continue
their education in schools that have resource centres and work places respectively.

INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES

Wa Methodist School for the Blind has the following infrastructure in housing staff, students in running the above mentioned programmes.

-Two classrooms blocks, one for the primary and the other for the Junior HighSchool

The school as for the past 4 years improved significantly on academic excellence. It has repeatedly chalked 100% success at the BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination of the West
African Examination Council from the year 2006 - 2009.

This is the demonstration of the industry dedication and discipline of the teaching staff in their bid to achieve the vision of the school and to guide the pupils in to higher realism of
education.

For the past four years all candidates who completed the BECE programme had
placement in SHS of their choices. Currently, there are about fifteen students in the Universities pursuing various degree programmes. Beside these students, many have completed the universities
and are teaching and working in other organizations.

Top on the agenda is Dr. Bashiru - Koray who is now a State Attorney in Ghana.

PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL AID INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS.

The school has been involved in national and international competitions of all sorts ranging from spelling bee, debating, short story and essay writing.

In 2006, 3 students had their stories short listed for publication in a UK Magazine. In the year 2007, 2 students had their work published in book entitled LISTENING TO THE CHILDREN Which
is anthology of a selection writings from blind pupils all over the world. The school has also received commendations in Spain, India and China for their active participation and involvement in
activities of blind children.

In 2008 they came 3rd position in the Upper West Region in the spelling bee project. In 2009, one out of the two representatives of the school who participated in a national
reading competition had a 2nd position.

In conclusion, the huge successes of the school would have a mirage had it not been for the countless efforts support from staff to pupils and the invaluable contribution of Force
Foundation in providing the school with a computer lab, connected to the internet, a recording studio and an embossing Braille machine. Invaluably, the exposure of these young ones to the
internet has helped to wider their intellectual horizon and to keep them in a competitive spirit with their colleagues in the sighted schools.

CHALLENGES OF THE SCHOOL

Despite the successes of the school outlined above, it is not without its teething problems.
Primary among the problems are:

Inadequate classrooms to cater for the adult Braille class, functional and the Kindergarten.

Inadequate furniture for the primary sector, kindergarten and functional classes.

Complete absence of tarred roads streets lights in the school.

The need for modern Braille books to equip the school library which is currently filled with a large number of outmoded books

The need for a Mechanized water pumping machine and over head tanks to save the children from the perennial water shortage the school faces during dry season.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Although the school is supported by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Society For The Blind in the provision of instructional materials, much remains to be done particularly in
the following arrears,

Braille sheets for writing

Cubarism cubes and boards

High capacity Embosser

Mathematical Braille equipment materials

Braille writing frames and stylus

Low vision learning materials

Instructional materials for Integrated Science

Toys and games for the blind

Audio Book in CD's and cassettes.

Sporting equipment materials

POOR AND NEEDY CHILDREN

These categories of children lack certain basic amenities in life, such as footwear,
detergents for bathing and washing their clothes.

Once a while, however, the children get support from some individuals, groups, churches and NGOs in the form of clothing, footwear and food items.

These assistance comes in drips and in between a long span of time. The daring call therefore is for support in any form possible to help sustain and rekindle the spirit of love and
concern for them.
As at now, there are 15 (fifteen) needy boys and 11 (eleven) needy girls.

FUTURE PROJECTIONS

It is the anticipation of the school authorities to set up a poultry, vegetable garden and fish pound with the view of giving orientation and practice to the vocational students and
products of the functional class to enable them to be economically independent in fulfillment of the motor of the school.

The school has the land but lack the capacity to implement these projections.

We are therefore calling on philanthropist and organizations with the business a cument of any of the projections mentioned above to guide and assist us to carve a better image for these
under privilege children.

In another vein the school has a vision of setting up a Braille press for the production of suitable text books for students with visual impairment in the three northern regions of
Ghana.